Therapy head for x-ray apparatus



Nov. 28, 1939.

W. H. HAUPT THERAPY HEAD FOR X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1939 w. H. HAUPT 2,181,620

THEHD'Y HEAD FOR X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Nov. 28, 1939. w. H. HAUPT v THERAPY HEAD FOR X-RAY APPARATUS v 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2,1959

din. I".

Patented Nov. 28, 1939 THERAPY HEAD FOR X-RAY APPARATUS Walter H. Haupt,Ludlow, Ky., assignor to The Kelley-Koett Manufacturing Company,

corporated, Covington, Ky., a corporation of Ohio Application February2, 1939, Serial No. 254,263

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a therapy head for an X-ray generator.- Amongthe objects of the invention are the provision of means'for identifyinga beam of visible light closely with an X-ray beam, so thattheadjustment of the X-ray directing means may be made with greatcertainty as to the patient. This adjustment, since it can be made withharmless visible light, may be done in the presence of the physicians,attendants, etc., without exposing them to. the harmful effects of theX-ray.

Another object is the provision of an easily regulatable shutter tocontrol both beams. This shutter may be set with great exactness to givea rectangle in which thereis a wide choice of the relations thereof.

Another object is the provision of an exceedingly fiat construction of ahead of this character, so that it is neither necessary to use anexceptionally high X-ray generator nor an exceptionally low roll tablefor the patient. A flat head also makes possible shortening the pathv ofthe X-ray beam to the patient.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a prospective view of mytreatment head attached to an X-ray generator of the therapy type,'whichis made in the general shape of a flat arch.

Figure 2 is alongitudinal section of the treat- I showing the operatingmechanism which controls the vertically moving shutters, uncovered.

Figure 5 is a section of the same, taken on the in Figure 1, while theX-ray generator is shown in dotted line. My treatment head comprises abody I I, by which it may be attached by bolting, or otherwise, to theX-ray generator at the point where the X-ray beam makes its exit. Thecourse of the X-ray beam is indicated by straight divergent dotted linesin Figure 2. Below the body II there are two large superposed disks I2and I3. Both disks are ray proof except in the centers thereof, throughwhich there is a large opening I 4, which is ordinarily closed by leadshutters except when the apparatus is in use or ready for use.vProjecting from the sides of body I], upon a common axis, there are twohousings I5 in which lenses I6 are mounted. Projecting from thelens-housing I5 there are two cylindrical chambers H, the axes of whichcoincide with the floor level of the lens housing.v The chambers H,which have louvers 20 are designed for the accommodation of electriclamps I8 of which there is one per chamber. In the upper part of bodyI!) there is mounted a thin aluminum mirror I9, which is highly polishedupon its lower surface. The metal of Which the mirror is made issubstantially transparent to X-rays. The position of the mirror is such,as shown. in Figure 2, that a line running along the trough of themirror is vertical to the surface of the paper, The reflecting surfaces,therefore, are arranged to direct the visible beams downward. Thearrangement of the light sources I8 is such thatthe of the filaments ofthe lamps I8. By using a lens in such an arrangement the'virtual lengthof the path of the visible light is made equal to the length of the pathto the mirror surface taken by the X-ray beam. The visible light,therefore appears to come from the source of the X-ray and itsdivergence is exactly coincident with that of the X-ray beam. To getsuch effect it is necessary to use concentrated filament lamps and suchare the kind illustrated by I8. Of course, in comparing the lengths ofthe X-ray beam and visible light beam to the mirror reflecting surface,an identical point on the mirror must be used as the basis of reference.I

It will be observed in Figure 2 that the general arrangement of body II, mirrors I6, and housings I5 and chambers I1 is such as to leave aspace 2I nearly enclosed by them, in which the disks I3 and I4 can beaccommodated. This feature is of importance because it contributes tothe flatness of the therapy head and so -makes it easier to use belowthe X-ray generator I0, where space is limited, and also makes the raypath shorter and consequently, the intensity greater.

Within the space 2I there is a circular extension of the body II, theextension being in section in Figure 2 and numbered 22. Rotatably' floorof the lens housingis opposite the center mounted upon 22 there is aflange 23. Across the circular opening in body extension 22 there is atransparent disk 24, preferably of cellulose acetate, this disk having ablack cross in its center. Its function is to indicate upon the patient,by its shadow, the center of the X-ray beam. It, therefore, constitutesa sighting means.

Shutter disk 93 is tightly attached to flange 23. Immediately above thisdisk is a shutter 24 and above the latter is disk 52. Above the lastmentioned disk as seen in Figure 2, is a second shutter 25 and a pulley26. Below disk 13 and attached thereto, there is a second flange 2'! inwhich a lead disk with apertures of various sizes, may be inserted. Theapertures are for the purpose of limiting the area to be irradiated. Apair of lugs 29 are provided at opposite sides of disk 13 forconvenience in manually rotating disks l3 and 12 and their associatedparts.

Disks i 2 and i3, as has been observed, are both provided with openingsM through which the X-rays visible light may pass at times and othertimes be shut off. Means for varying the extent of these openings areshown in Figures 2 to 7 inclusive. While disks l2 and is are rotatablewith flange 23, their position relative to each other is fixed. Thisrelation is apart as measured by the directions of shutter opening. Bysuch arrangement a rectangle of variable dimensions is created for thepassage of the beams.

The so-called disks are in reality very shallow steel rings 36 and largewasher shaped plates 3! bounded thereby which are impervious to X-raysexcept in their centers or openings id. The rings 3!] are shoulders orsteps of flange 23. Above these openings and within the space bounded byrings Bil, the shutters 24, likewise impervious to X rays, are adaptedto slide to cover and uncover openings Hi. Flanged steel guides 32 areprovided on each side of opening it to direct the path of the shuttersand to lessen friction. On the plates the shutter adjusting mechanism ismounted. The entir Y assembly is thus disklike in form when viewed fromthe outside.

At each outer corner of the shutters, there is mounted a pulley 2t,freely rotatable on a pin 33 which is attached to washer shaped plate3|. A steel tape passes over and connects the pulleys on the same sideof the shutter. Extending from each leaf of the shutters 25 there is ahandle 35 extending through a slot (not shown) in each ring 39. 'Theslot is as long as the desired travel of each shutter leaf. At 35 eachhandle 35 is tightly attached to each outer pass of each of the tapes 34and at 31 each leaf is tight to an inner pass of the tapes. In operationtherefore, a 1ongitudinal movement of handle 35 will move the shutterleaf to which it is directly attached to open or close the space M tothe passage of the X-ray beam, and in addition, it will also move theother leaf of the shutter by means of the direct attachment of leaf totape on the further side of space M.

In order to obviate having to walk from one side of the apparatus to theother to manipulate handles 35, a s'lidable ring 33 is fitted over theoutside of each ring 3. A slot (not shown) in each ring 38 enables thehandle 35 to project through and makes possible the engagement of thehandles by the rings. A tab 39 (Fig. 2) is provided on each ring formoving it, this tab being on the opposite side of the therapy head fromthe handle 35 for that shutter. Thus one tab 39 and one handle 35 are oneach side of the head.

The body I! is, of course, provided with means for attaching the therapyhead to the outlet of the X-ray generator. Such means may be any commonone such. as bolts, screw threads, etc., and therefore, unnecessary toillustrate. Body H is also, of course, provided with side openingsnecessary to allow the visible beams to enter to strike mirror 59.

In operation, the head is attached to the X-ray beam outlet, the X-raygenerator not operating. Both shutters 24 and 25 are now closed. Aproper sized opening in lead plate 28 is placed over the center of diskl3. Lamps iii are now energized. Shutters 25 are opened by movinghandles 35. The cross on cellulose acetate disk 24 is focused on thepatient at the place to be treated. The X-ray beam is then turned on bystarting the X-ray generator preferably by remote control exterior tothe treatment room.

I claim as myinvention:

1. An X-ray therapy head comprising a body enclosing an opening for thepassage of an X-ray beam, a pair of chambers extending from the side ofsaid body, sources of illumination within said chambers, an angledmultiple Xray-permeable mirror athwart said opening, lens means mountedto direct light from said sources of illumination on said mirror so asto direct the reflected visible light along the X-ray beam and X-rayproof shutter means attached to said body below said mirror.

2. In combination in a therapy head'for X-ray apparatus, a hollow body,means for attaching said body to the ray outlet of an X-ray generator,an angled multiple X-ray transparent mirror mounted in said body oversaid ray outlet athwart the path traversed by the X-ray beam, multiplemeans for illuminating said mirror with visible light from separatedconcentrated sources said mirror being inclined to reflect said visiblelight to identify it substantially with the beam of X-rays when thelatter passes through said mirror. 1

3. In combination in a. therapy head for X-ray apparatus, a hollow body,means for attaching said body to the beam outlet of an X-ray generator,an angled multiple X--ray transparent mirror mounted within said hollowbody and athwartthe path traversed by said X-ray beam, sources ofconcentrated light at each side of said mirror arranged to illuminatesaid mirror with substantially-only half of their light and lens meansbetween said light sources and said mirror, said lens means making thevirtual path of the visible light from its source to any given point onthe mirror reflecting surface substantially as long as the distance fromthe source of the Xrays to said point on said mirror reflecting surface.

WALTER H. HAUPT.

